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Tragically hip Ailing Belle appears doubtful for outfield duty
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) -- Albert Belle won't be in Baltimore's lineup for its spring opener against St. Louis on Friday because of a sore hip that has put his future with the team in doubt. While Belle will miss the road trip to Jupiter, he is scheduled to start in right field the next day against the Minnesota Twins at Fort Lauderdale. Belle has been used in right field for all three intrasquad games, with mixed results. He has hit the ball with authority, but continues to move poorly in the outfield and on the basepaths and hasn't attempted to slide, even in drills. "If there's a close play, he's supposed to slide. He'll play hard," manager Mike Hargrove said Tuesday. "Albert has not backed off or asked out of anything here. There have been times we've gone up to him and asked him how he feels and if he wants to sit out a drill. He's not taken us up on the offer, which is good to see." When informed that Belle has not slid, Hargrove responded: "Eventually he has to." Baltimore resists making projections on Belle based on his physical condition. He most likely will be restricted to use as the designated hitter. "I didn't come here with any preconceived notions about where Albert should be with his hip. I think that's fairly untested waters for all of us," Hargrove said. "You have an idea of at what point a player needs to be in order to be a productive player. I've got that idea. Where is he to that? I don't care to answer that right now. I think that's a question that's better answered later."
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